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Shapes

The Shapes panel in Maptaskr Power Maps allows you to draw, upload, and manage custom shapes directly on your map. Shapes are useful for highlighting areas, filtering data, or adding context to your spatial analysis. After adding a shape, you can edit its geometry, style, and properties for more advanced map interactions.

Drawing a Shape​

When drawing a shape you can choose from these types:

TypeDescription
PointA single coordinate (marker) used to pinpoint a location or label anchor.
LineA path made of connected vertices (routes, boundaries, corridors).
PolygonA closed area used to represent zones, regions, catchments or coverage.
TextA standalone text label placed at a point for annotation.

On Desktop​

  1. Select the Shapes tool in the left menu.

  2. Click Add Shape.

  3. Choose Draw Shape.

  4. Select the shape type you want to draw (e.g., polygon).

  5. Click on the map to set your starting point, then continue clicking to define the shape.

  6. Double‑click to finish the feature (or press Esc to cancel). Repeat to add additional features to the same shape until you have all the features you need.

  7. Click Save to keep the shape, or Cancel to try again. Draw a Polygon

On Mobile​

  1. Select the Shapes tool in the left menu.

  2. Click Add Shape.

  3. Choose Draw Shape.

  4. Select the shape type you want to draw (e.g., polygon).

  5. A crosshair appears fixed in the centre of the screen (you move the map underneath it).

    1. Pan: Drag the map with one finger to position the crosshair over the first point.

    2. Add first point: Tap Click to add a point.

    3. Add more points (Line/Polygon only): Pan to the next vertex and tap Click to add a point again. Repeat for each vertex.

    4. Finish:

      • Point: After the first tap you are done.
      • Line: Tap Click to add a point on the final vertex, then tap Ok or double‑tap Click to add a point.
      • Polygon: After placing the last vertex, either tap Ok or double‑tap Click to add a point.

    5. Save or cancel: Tap Ok (top) to save the feature, or Cancel to discard.

Uploading a Shape File​

  1. Select the Shapes tool in the left menu.

  2. Click Add Shape.

  3. Choose Upload Shape. Upload a Shape

Format Comparison​

AspectGeoJSONShapefile (.zip)
Multiple geometriesYes (FeatureCollection)Yes (all features in file)
Attribute name lengthFlexibleLimited (DBF constraint)
CRS handlingMust already be WGS84Reprojected if .prj supplied; else assumed WGS84
Human editableYes (plain text)Requires GIS tooling

Best Practices​

  • Simplify very dense polygons to reduce vertex count and speed rendering.
  • Remove unnecessary properties before upload to keep the attribute panel focused.
  • Validate polygons (avoid self‑intersections) to prevent rendering issues.
File Size

Large shape files increase load time and browser memory usage.

Default limit: 100 MB per upload (GeoJSON or zipped Shapefile) for both AppSource and manual installations. If your organisation has customised this limit, check with your administrator.

Recommended working size: Keep individual uploads under ~10 MB where possible for smoother interaction, especially on lower‑spec devices.

If an upload stalls or fails:

  1. Simplify geometry (reduce vertex count / dissolve unnecessary detail).
  2. Split very large datasets into thematic or regional subsets.
  3. Remove unused attribute fields to shrink file size.
  4. For Shapefiles: ensure only one layer per ZIP and that it is compressed (no nested folders).

Note: Extremely high vertex counts (even in smaller files) can still degrade pan/zoom performance; simplification often helps more than raw MB reduction.

Editing and Managing Shapes​

Once a shape is drawn or uploaded, you can edit, rename, or delete it using the options menu for that shape.

OptionDescription
Zoom to ExtentZooms the map to show the full extent of the shape.
Use as FilterUses the shape as a filter to visualize related data.
OpacityAdjusts the opacity of the shape.
Edit ShapeEnables editing of the shape’s geometry.
Rename ShapeAllows you to rename the shape.
Delete ShapeRemoves the shape from the map.

To edit a shape:

  1. Select Edit Shape from the shape’s options menu or from the buttons below the shape.

  2. Select the shape on the map to open the attributes panel.

  3. In the attributes panel, you can:

    FeatureDescription
    Override stylingOverride the configured fill and stoke colors and type. Learn more
    Attributes listStore properties for styling and labels (not for additional metadata).
    Edit GeometryEdit the shape’s points directly on the map.
    Delete FeatureRemoves the selected feature (point/line/polygon) from the shape without affecting the others.
Caution

According to the GeoJSON Specification (RFC 7946), the properties object is intended for application-specific attributes. To maintain compatibility and ensure clean data, only styles and labels are stored in the attributes list, avoiding additional metadata that could conflict with the standard.

  1. Click Ok to save your changes.

  2. Click Ok again to confirm any other edits made while in edit mode. Edit Shape Name

Edit Geometry​

On Desktop​

  1. Enter shape edit mode: Either (a) select the shape on the map then click Edit Shape in the attributes panel, or (b) open the shape menu in the Shapes panel and choose Edit Shape.

  2. If the shape contains multiple features, click the specific feature (point / line / polygon) you want to modify.

  3. Click Edit Geometry.

  4. Vertices (control points) appear:

    • Point: Drag the marker to its new location.
    • Line / Polygon: Drag any vertex to reposition it. (If midpoint handles are shown you can drag them to refine the shape.)

  5. Click Ok to apply geometry changes (Esc cancels the current geometry edit).

  6. Click Ok again (shape toolbar) to save all edits, or Cancel to discard.

On Mobile​

  1. Enter shape edit mode: Either (a) select the shape on the map then click Edit Shape in the attributes panel, or (b) open the shape menu in the Shapes panel and choose Edit Shape.

  2. If the shape contains multiple features, click the specific feature (point / line / polygon) you want to modify.

  3. Click Edit Geometry.

  4. A crosshair appears fixed in the centre of the screen (you move the map underneath it).

    1. Pan: Drag the map with one finger to position the crosshair over the first point.

    2. Move first point: Tap Click to Grab a point then Pan: Drag the map with one finger to position the crosshair over new location for that point.

    3. edit more points (Line/Polygon only): Pan to the next vertex and tap Click to Grab a point again. Repeat for each vertex.

    4. Finish: Tap Ok to save the edited geometry.

    5. Save or cancel: Tap Ok (top) to save the feature, or Cancel to discard.

Shape Attributes​

The Shapes Properties panel lets you adjust geometry, styling, and stored attributes for any drawn shape.

  1. Select Edit Geometry to modify a point, line, polygon.

  2. Control points (vertex handles) appear on the feature. Drag these to move vertices, reshape the geometry, or reposition points/lines.

  3. When finished, click Ok (or Cancel to discard).

note
  • Ensure geometry remains valid (avoid self‑intersections) before saving.
  • Attribute entries here are intended for styling/labeling consistency with GeoJSON best practices.

Styling Shapes​

By default, styling is inherited from the configuration profile. Use the Shape Properties Override Styles option to manually adjust fill color, stroke color, stroke width, and stroke type.

Using Shape Tools​

Move​

  1. Ensure the shape is in Edit mode.

  2. Click the Move tool.

  3. Click and hold the feature, then drag it to the new location.

  4. Release the mouse when positioned correctly.

  5. Deselect Move and click Ok to save (or Cancel to discard).

Scale​

  1. Ensure the shape is in Edit mode.

  2. Click the Scale tool.

  3. Click and hold the features edges, then drag in or drag out to scale.

  4. Release the mouse when positioned correctly.

  5. Deselect Scale and click Ok to save (or Cancel to discard).

Rotate​

  1. Ensure the shape is in Edit mode.

  2. Click the Rotate tool.

  3. Click and hold the features edges, then drag up or down to rotate the feature.

  4. Release the mouse when positioned correctly.

  5. Deselect Rotate and click Ok to save (or Cancel to discard).

Features​

The Features panel lists all features (points, lines, and polygons) contained within the selected shape. From here you can:

  • Highlight a feature on the map by selecting it.
  • Edit its geometry (enters geometry edit mode for that feature).
  • View or adjust its styling/attributes (where supported).
  • Delete a feature you no longer need.

Use this panel to quickly manage complex shapes composed of multiple feature types.